Social Services Specialist IV

Basic Purpose

Positions in this family are assigned responsibility for providing social services to children and adults in communities, facilities, institutions or hospitals.

Responsibilities

• Manages a caseload and provides services for individuals and their families.
• Evaluates the needs of individuals and families; assists the family as a unit to function more adequately; counsels clients and arranges for needed treatment or services.
• Participates on a psychiatric team to gather social data, counsels individuals under the direction of a psychiatrist, psychologist or other social services specialist.
• Assesses the needs of individuals and determines eligibility for specific programs; interviews clients, both in an office setting and on home visits, completes necessary case documents and compiles data to determine eligibility.
• Develops and plans casework services and treatment for individuals with specialized problems in development, retardation, maladjustment or dependency.
• Develops and implements specialized treatment programs within the community; utilizes community resources; initiates projects with foster or adoptive parents.
• Investigates selected food stamp cases, conducts interviews and obtains information to determine food stamp violations or food stamp fraud.
• Participates in staff conferences and interdisciplinary team meetings for the purpose of determining overall treatment.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree and two additional years of qualifying experience plus one additional year of qualifying experience or social service administration experience.
• Bachelor’s degree and three years of experience in professional social work plus one additional year of qualifying experience or social service administration experience.
• An equivalent combination of education and experience, substituting one additional year of experience in professional social work for each year of the bachelor’s degree.

Skills

• Knowledge of social work principles and practices.
• Knowledge of casework principles and methods.
• Knowledge of current social and economic problems.
• Knowledge of the principles of family economics and budgeting.
• Knowledge of human relations.
• Knowledge of community, state and national health and welfare resources.
• Knowledge of psychological terminology.
• Knowledge of the principles of interviewing.
• Knowledge of social assistance requirements.
• Knowledge of therapeutic treatment.
• Knowledge of psychiatric and medical terminology.
• Knowledge of social welfare legislation as it pertains to the state administration of public welfare.
• Knowledge of the functions of public welfare agencies.
• Knowledge of social resources in Oklahoma as related to public assistance.
• Knowledge of individual and group behavior.
• Knowledge of social and psychiatric casework method and principles and their application to problems in psychiatric social work.
• Knowledge of mental and emotional disturbances.
• Knowledge of the principles of clinical interviewing.
• Knowledge of community, individual, and family social, economic, and health problems.
• Knowledge of medical social work methods and principles.
• Knowledge of literature in the field of social work.
• Knowledge of supervisory principles and practices.

Knowledge

• Knowledge of social work principles and practices.
• Knowledge of casework principles and methods.
• Knowledge of current social and economic problems.
• Knowledge of the principles of family economics and budgeting.
• Knowledge of human relations.
• Knowledge of community, state and national health and welfare resources.
• Knowledge of psychological terminology.
• Knowledge of the principles of interviewing.
• Knowledge of social assistance requirements.
• Knowledge of therapeutic treatment.
• Knowledge of psychiatric and medical terminology.
• Knowledge of social welfare legislation as it pertains to the state administration of public welfare.
• Knowledge of the functions of public welfare agencies.
• Knowledge of social resources in Oklahoma as related to public assistance.
• Knowledge of individual and group behavior.
• Knowledge of social and psychiatric casework method and principles and their application to problems in psychiatric social work.
• Knowledge of mental and emotional disturbances.
• Knowledge of the principles of clinical interviewing.
• Knowledge of community, individual, and family social, economic, and health problems.
• Knowledge of medical social work methods and principles.
• Knowledge of literature in the field of social work.
• Knowledge of supervisory principles and practices.

Ability

• To deal effectively and courteously with people.
• To exercise good judgment in evaluating situations.
• To present ideas and facts effectively and accurately.
• To consult with staff and agencies.
• To effectively treat social and emotional problems.
• To plan and organize a program.
• To relate professional training to casework practice and supervision in the field of family services.
• To plan and direct the work of a professional staff.

Education And Experience

• A master’s degree and two additional years of qualifying experience plus one additional year of qualifying experience or social service administration experience.
• A bachelor’s degree and three years of experience in professional social work plus one additional year of qualifying experience or social service administration experience.
• An equivalent combination of education and experience, substituting one additional year of experience in professional social work for each year of the bachelor’s degree.

Special Requirements

• Applicants must be willing and able to perform all job-related travel normally associated with this position.
• Some agencies may have determined positions in this job family to be safety sensitive as defined by 63 O.S. 427.8.

Equal Opportunity Employment

The State of Oklahoma is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of genetic information, race, religion, color, sex, age, national origin, or disability.